A new question for the Charger "fans"?

by Broncoman on Oct 6, 2008 11:35 PM PDT Comment 32 comments

This had me wondering, if the Chargers fail to make the playoffs or maybe they make it as a wildcard and get eliminated quickly, would you want Norv Turner fired? This is a team that many had pegged to go to the Super Bowl, and excuses aside, I am guessing that Norv may be gone if this team underachieves this year.

Some things that I have always noticed when a "hard-ass" coach gets run and a "player friendly" coach gets hired, I think the first year after the coach is run the team usally does really well saying that they needed to be treated like men and all that nonsense, then they start to revert to kids and being selfish and not playing as a team because they see that there will be no dicipline for bad behavior.

I think Norv Turner is a very good coordinator, but I think he is not as someone once said, "a leader of men", someone that those guys are going to look to when the going gets tough. The problem is, in San Diego I really don't see the great team leaders you need, LT is too quite, Rivers too much of a loud mouth, and Merriman is too much about doing his sack dance, and what they need is a head coach that can work with all the different guys on the team to get them on the right path, and to me Norv will never be that guy. Your thoughts Charger fans.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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I want Marty.

People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 7, 2008 8:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're right

LT is too ~~quiet~~ quite. But you just think Rivers is a “loud mouth” because you are a Bronco fan and are still mad about getting beat for the fourth straight time. Rivers has been a proven winner and a proven leader throughout his entire career. Playing the AFC Champsionship game with torn ligaments in both knees just further solidifies that fact.

Are we worried? You remember we started last season 2-3 too right? You remember we won the AFC west right? You remember we played in the AFC Championship right? Not to mention crippling injuries to our star QB, star RB, star TE, star OLB, and star C? Right?

People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 7, 2008 8:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Was it me or was it Rivers jawing at fans in Indy last year

Here’s the problem with Rivers, it isn’t just the the game last year, this guy has a rep all over the league of talking way too much trash and basically is known as someone who can’t just shut up and lead. He was what I call rabbit ears, if you are playing in the NFL and don’t think you are going to get junk thrown your way from opposing fans, then you are in the wrong business. He should be concerned with what is going on the field, not what someone up in the stands is saying.

That being said, this is a hypothetical question, if the Chargers don’t perform will they get rid of Turner? Hey they may come back and win the Super Bowl then it’s a mute question, but I am curious what you would want to happen if the team doesn’t do well.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum

by Broncoman on Oct 7, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Rivers cut out the talking

And the Chargers are accused of not having an “fire” or “passion”. I think Rivers needs to step it up and start mouthing off more. None of this wussy silence stuff.

Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's why I like him so much

Plus, he seems to play better when he is pissed off or riled up and talking trash. And don’t get it twisted ya’ll, WINNING GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TALK TRASH.

People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 7, 2008 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

and since when is it bad to talk trash? This is football right?

When did rivers sign a contract to be a role model?

He plays better pissed.

We're gonna dazzle you with our "sub par" play.

by soulSD on Oct 7, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Every professional athlete is a role model.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 4

by weazel on Oct 8, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Precisely.

I’m not going to put Rivers down on a SD fansite, however – I think you put it quite nicely.

Personally (I live in the SD area) I think that AJ Smith is an idiot for getting rid of Marty after a 14-2 season…

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 7, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Marty deserved better, but he and AJ never got along.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schottenheimer didn’t deserve better. He intentionally got himself fired.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Oct 7, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He deserved better than a one year contract offer.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree. Getting rid of Schottenheimer was the right thing to do. I just wish Spanos (not A.J. Smith, but Spanos) had done it earlier so that we could have chosen from a bigger pool of potential coaches.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Oct 7, 2008 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

If was going to be done, it should’ve been done more quickly. Cameron or Phillips could’ve been promoted, and the other might’ve stayed also.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then again, the reason he was fired was because of how he went about trying to replace Phillips…

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Oct 7, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot about that part

He wanted to bring his son in, right? Which he knew AJ would never go for.

It was bad blood all around. My thinking was that if it was going to be done, try to do it so you can maintain continuity with the rest of the staff. Get Cam and Wade lined up, then let him go.

The way it has handled had every possibility of tanking the team. Which may or may not have been Marty’s intent, I guess. Maybe I don’t like Marty as much as I thought I did.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spanos, not AJ. Spanos specifically asked him not to hire family and Schottenheimer responded by trying to bring in his brother for an interview.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Oct 7, 2008 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seems

grievously premature to talk about firing Norv now. Last year he took us deeper into the playoffs than we have been since the 1995 Superbowl run. In the playoffs the team looked poised for a change; more importantly the coach was poised in the playoffs. Despite a number of injuries the team beat not only the Titans, but also a very good Colts team in their own stadium.

The coach I miss is Wade Phillips, I really enjoyed his aggressive style more than Cottrel’s cautious approach. I can see making that change, but five games into the season is way too early to be hitting the panic button; you might as well ask if we should dump Rivers if we don’t make the playoffs. And you are just flat wrong on Rivers, I understand why you don’t like him, but he is the leader on this team and a good one.

"If two hitherto rival football teams, under the influence of brotherly love, decided to co-operate in placing the football first beyond one goal and then beyond the other, no one's happiness would be increased" Bertrand Russell

by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 7, 2008 8:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wade Phillips has Martyitis

He’s a great regular season coach, but he never goes far in the playoffs. Nevertheless, I like him too.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There could be

something to that. It almost killed me when he went prevent against NE in the playoffs from two seasons ago. Last year he came up short too; it may be a little too soon to hang him with the Marty albatross yet, but you make a good point.

by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 7, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

This conversation makes me want to vomit. Please, think about player/game management and play calling when evaluating a coach. Ability to win 2-3 games in January has more to do with that (and the team’s talent level), then the actual wins and losses. Marty won games because his players were disciplined and came prepared for each game. Turner wins games because he is able to manage his top talent to make big plays and he can develop a QB. Both have crappy game management. Marty’s play calling was often uninspired, but Turner’s is often head scratching. Both are okay coaches. Marty’s style could get him through the regular season, but kept games too close in the playoffs to avoid bad breaks creating losses. Turner had a little more gamesmanship and was more aggressive in the playoffs, but his teams were sloppier. Both are average head coaches. I haven’t seen enough of Wade to really identify his strengths or weaknesses, but he very well could be better than both. The Chargers could do better than Marty/Norv, but is it better to go with the devil you know or the devil you don’t know, because no Hall of Fame, playoff-tested head coach is going to walk through that door any time soon.

Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that's a pretty insightful analysis.

by nburns on Oct 7, 2008 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume you mean

excluding the urge to vomit. That wasn’t all that insightful in retrospect.

Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, not so much the vomit part.

by nburns on Oct 7, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On Marty

Marty’s style could get him through the regular season, but kept games too close in the playoffs to avoid bad breaks creating losses.

I’ll disagree with this. In the NE game he went for it on fourth & 11 instead of going for the field goal. To me that is not keeping it close; he seemed to lose his composure.

Turner had a little more gamesmanship and was more aggressive in the playoffs, but his teams were sloppier.

I think this is totally off the mark. From Florence’s head butting penalty, to Marlon McCree’s fumble to Shane Olivea’s penalty; the Bolts were incredibly sloppy under Schottenheimer in the NE game. In contrast they never lost composure at Indy, even after some very questionable pass interference calls, a phantom holding call and losing their starting QB.

by Brian (DaBolts) on Oct 7, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

The Chargers really came into their own last year in the playoffs

Well fought and played game against the Titans.
Superior effort against Indy when they had every excuse in the book to lose (on the road, dome, refs, injuries, etc).
Despite LT’s cloak of invisibility, the rest of the team gutted it out and came very close to winning that game.

My respect for the Chargers grew tremendously after last year’s playoffs. How much can be attributed to Norv? You’d have to ask the players that one. Mighty coincidental, though.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last bullet was the Patriots game

apologies for the lack of proofreading before clicking post.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't only talking about the Chargers

I was referring to the Browns and Chiefs, as well as the Redskins. But point taken.

Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2008 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

the CHargers lost that game to the Pats because Marlon McRee didnt knock down the 4th and long pass, he decided to try and get a pick . he falls on that, chargers win, we don’t have the Marty convo at ALL

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Oct 7, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Post season zeroes

Although I liked Mary (not entirely because Elway owned him), I think post season record is a valid consideration when evaluating head coaches.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 7, 2008 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would not fire Norv

The guy and his staff are creative and utilize our talent very well. Better than Marty did. Our team is so much more of an offensive Juggernaut then it was with Marty.

We're gonna dazzle you with our "sub par" play.

by soulSD on Oct 7, 2008 12:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And in response

to Norv being too “player friendly”: These are grown men. In the NFL you don’t hire or fire someone for their babysitting ability. These players are professionals and Norv treats them that way. This isn’t college football and it shouldn’t be coached as such.

LT is too quite, Rivers too much of a loud mouth, and Merriman is too much about doing his sack dance

I really think your are letting your bias get the best of you here. Merriman is too much about being the best linebacker in the NFL. Hes the leader of our defense. I can’t blame you on focusing on the dancing though, I mean he has done it 40 times in 3 years. We obviously will never agree on Rivers/Cutler so lets just skip that.

We're gonna dazzle you with our "sub par" play.

by soulSD on Oct 7, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs